Common Cat Litter Box Problems
Cat litter box problems can be a cause of concern for many cat owners. A cat owner may become frustrated by cats that are urinating or defecating outside the litter box.
If a cat has previously urinated only in the litter box and begins to urinate outside the litter box, the most common reason is that the litter is too dirty. Many cats are picky about the cleanliness of the litter.
This resistance to using a dirty litter box usually can be resolved by changing the cat litter more frequently. Sometimes, I cat will refuse to use a litter box if the cat owner has changed the type of litter.
Litter box problems may develop if a new cat is introduced to household or if there are multiple cats in the house. This is because some cats are territorial about their litter boxes. This resistance to sharing litter boxes can often be solved by adding more litter boxes in different parts of the house.
Sudden refusal to use the litter box could be a sign of a urinary tract infection. Sudden changes in behavior such as a loss of litter box training should be reported to the veterinarian.
Cats with ear and a urinary tract infections may strain to urinate, cry when urinating, produce very little urine, or there may be blood in the urine. Cats showing signs of a urinary tract infection should be taken to the veterinarian as soon as possible since urinary tract infections can be dangerous for cats.
Cats will sometimes defecate in bathtubs. This often occurs if the cat is ill or if the litter box is dirty. One way to discourage this behavior is to keep a small amount of water in the bathtub so that the bottom of the bathtub is covered in water.
A cat may refuse to use the litter box if it is close to their food dish or in a busy area of the home. Moving the litter box to a quiet area in the home away from any food dishes may solve this problem. If the litter boxes placed in a room with the door, the door should be propped open enough to allow the cat to always have access to the litter box.
Cat urine spraying is not the same as litter box problems. Cat spraying is a territorial behavior that may be worse than households with multiple male cats. Cat spraying is unrelated to litter box usage.
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